Lighting Psychology

Lighting Psychology in Films

In film, different lighting is used to express different emotional experience/connection, to express rough dialogue, or simply to bring attention to something in specific. Different lightings help producers become in touch with their audience more easier by being able to set the mood, control the viewer's attention easier, and being able to mold the overall visual style/aura of the scene or film. Lighting in cinema also makes it easier to differentiate different genres/eras in between films that also leads to visual storytelling with the side factors such as color theory or more direct factors such as dialogue. Lighting is able to enhance different moods, brighten life into scenes, can prioritize character traits or themes. There are so many factors in different lightings that can completely alter the entire mood, message, and connection with a piece of film. There are numerous types of lighting: 

•  High-key lighting - this lighting makes things seem brighter, happier, honest, and innocent environment. 

• Low-key lighting - this lighting created depth and strong contrast by adding shadows and a limited amount of light. This normally creates emotional conflict or mystery to the film. 

• Soft lighting - uses diffused light, smooth shadows that normally adds glow to actors faces. This type of lighting is known to create intimacy, romance, and add vulnerability to characters.  It is mainly used in romance movies throughout close-ups or emotional confessions.

• Hard lighting - this uses sharp shadows and strong highlights. It mainly feels harsh, realistic, uncomfortable, and removes any romantic touch/softness many films might have. This lighting also supports the point in emphasizing flaws or emotional problems. For example, this lighting would be used while an argument, breakup or a moment of truth is being released in a film.

• Backlighting - backlighting is just a light that is behind the subject which creates a silhouette or glow. This type of lighting normally creates mystery, emotional distance or adds importance to the character.

• Side lighting - this lighting utilizes light by having one side lit, one side in a shadow. This heavily adds contrast, suggests moral/emotional uncertainty. This is also used to create tension or problems in between two different characters.

• Natural lighting - sunlight, lamps, and practical lights is what typically provides a natural lighting in films. This type of lighting is used yo feal realistic, grounded, normal, and is used to add an honest connection with watchers as it makes shots appear more real than others. 

• Motivated lighting - when light comes from visible sources such as windows or lamps. This is used to add honesty in shots and to make scenes look believable especially when going through a personal point. This type of lighting is able to control moods without using too many fake props/lighting. This is known to guide a viewers' attention naturally.

Another example of motivated lighting 

An example of high-key vs. low-key lighting

Different types of lighting on one person

A lighting technique setup

Cambridge Portfolio Schedule

Cambridge Portfolio Project Schedule

Schedule:

• Week 1 - Explain and express both of our views on topics regarding our genres, movies, plans, experiences, extracurriculars/jobs that might get into the way of availability. Plan out what we want to do.
• Week 2 - Organize ourselves with creating a schedule for when we both can film, finalize where we want to film, who we want in our film, how we want to create our characters, overall idea/moral of our film, the aura, and type of color theory use we want in our film. Express the props, clothing, makeup, soundtrack, and other details for the film.

• 

  (We plan to use color theory!)

  Week 3 - Begin filming, capture the right scenery, capture enough raw footage, capture correct lighting or something close that will make editing not too difficult, capture some foley sounds. Making sure of all shots we have with actors emotions, props, and dialogue by revising some of it.
• Week 4 - Finish all foley sounds, find/alter shots or lighting, begin editing with approval on both parties of what we like/don't like about certain things we captured or want to add.
• Week 5 - Revise shots, sound, edits, and change any problems or things we end up changing out minds about. By doing this we can re-shoot if needed or continue/change editing in specific parts of the film.
• Week 6 - Ensure and revise that foley sounds, dialogue, mannerisms, and other factors in our film are good, if not we re-shoot, re-edit, or alter some of it to our liking. 
• Week 7 - Complete the final cuts and edits, alter any lighting problems with editing or switch shots with raw footage if necessary. Revise everything together to the point we're both pleased, happy with the final product. If not, change what needs to be altered in order to make it better.
• Creative Critical Reflection (CCR) - create and express the proper reflection while also editing, altering, and revising it until needed.

Necessities: 

(We plan to use intriguing shots/editing techniques!)

1. Communication with partner (Andrea) about both of our likings, interests, examples.

2. Organize my personal schedule with Andrea's.

3. Brainstorming and compare ideas with my partner.

4. Finalize specific roles to ourselves/actors.

5. Decide where we will be filming, items and clothing we'll want to use.

6. Create script, storyboards, etc.

7. Prepare to film by testing equipment, props, and actors.

8. Patience throughout raw footage, retakes and editing.

 

Psychological Romance Credit Sequences Analysis

 Phantom Thread - (2017, Dir. by Paul Thomas Anderson)

In the credit sequences from Phantom Thread, it creates a very elegant, clean, ending for the film. As the font is quite similar to the one I'm currently using, it is still more prominent into creating a very crisp and tidy look for the film. The music also supports this image of elegancy due to the slow piano music playing in the back. There are blues and yellows that create a soft touch for the end of the film. As you see a woman that takes a deep sigh after slowly being assisted to take of some of the layers of her dress, it creates an intimate and slow emotion for the end. 

Black Swan (2010, Dir. Darren Aronofsky)

Black Swan's end credits consists of an the main character on a cushion after taking the dramatic fall at the end of the ballet show, breathing heavy, disassociating with her instructor and the other people part of her dance studio. The overall of thus movie especially the end credits, involve white or black, no in between which keeps the contrast throughout the movie pushing until the end. When the main character is laying down, the expression on her face says so many words and emotions at the same time. The music also adds to the intensity of this scene, as she feels the accomplishment after going through so much only to also feel the disappointment deep down. For the credit sequence, an eerie, strange sound continues to play as the end credits are rolling. Throughout this part of the movie, we are presented to the actors and important names of the film as an all white screen with black petals are in the background. The font they use is a very simplistic, regular sized, thicker font. This still manages to show how much light the character had in her only for the darkness to slowly fall into her mentality, causing to overtake it all. 

The Lobster (2015, Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)

In the end scene/credits of The Lobster, we see a man and a woman sitting down at a restaurant while the man is asking the woman to check specific parts of her body such as her hands, elbows, and also asking her to smile. She briefly explains to him how he won't feel certain part of what seems to be an activity...she continues to tell him "it's strange at first, but then you get used to it." We are then shown a hallway that leads to the bathroom where the man takes a steak knife, stuffs his mouth with a towel, and hold up the steak knife to his eye for a minute and 23 seconds, without an actual response or visible action of if he actually did or or not. Then the camera pans to the woman waiting at the table, this is shown for an entire minute and 6 seconds. The ending of this film that builds up to the simplicity of the credits, by elongating these important shots that carry weight in order to get an actual response of what could have happened or not. These build tension but manage to die quickly, such as for the end credits that are explained in the most simple, normal, mediocre font in white with a simple, plain black screen. This created a calming atmosphere for the viewer after the were probably assuming and jumping to different conclusions of what could have actually happened between the long duration of some shots.

 

Psychological Romance Film Openings

"Gone Girl" - (2014, Dir. by David Fincher)

This film opening's first impression is quite deceiving because of the fact it creates  a comfortable environment for the ones whose viewing the movie. We are in the first character's point of view as we see another character, a female laying on him that creates an intimate mood. At the first glance anyone would just think how comfortable and cute the movie would be but not too long after the male character begins a voiceover expressing how he thinks about his wife in very weird, unsettling ways. It's the type of dialogue that sets an uneasy and awkward emotion with only that small chunk of the beginning. 

This type of dialogue would automatically catch many viewers' attention because it's not something you hear on a daily basis. In these slow motion shots of the female character only looking up at the camera, one could assume she is clueless about the way her husband thinks about her because of the way she does not react to the voiceover. Her character doesn't seem uncomfortable in his presence at all which secures the connection or bond they have for at least the impression of the film. The film opening has dark blue hues as it settles a very simplistic, mediocre area once the shots pan to parts around the city. The type of tone, colors, and type of filming creates a straightforward, quiet, and cold sensation.  

"Blue Valentine" - (2010, Dir. by Derek Cianfrance)

In this film, the opening establishes a bright connection between this father and his daughter. The film opening shows spots of their house showing their daughters' toys and things she likes to play around with which show she's loved as well as the way her father plays around with her. In movies like these, showing the viewer a deep connection as they did in this film opening, adds so much depth and emotion considering the problems that are later to come as the movie progresses. The film opening utilizes a lot of close ups of things around their house or specific movements the characters do to show the comfort and the strong relationship they have. They create the character of the mother to seem serious and rushed about getting their daughter to school and getting to work. 

The mother acting serious about cleanliness, being punctual, and overall rushing the bonding in between the father and the daughter in that moment makes it seem as if she is intruding the loving bond they have. They use yellow and green colors throughout the film to show that they are at least, a somewhat happy family together. The daughter seems like a healthy, beautiful young girl so it's not like the picture they are creating around the mother is an abusive one, just a serious one. This is also supported by when the mother is helping her daughter get dressed while talking to her softly and showing a caring bond in between.

"Her" - (2013, Dir. Spike Jonze)

The film opening I will be talking about is quite different from the others in the sense that the entire plot of the movie is not something people see often at all. At the beginning of the film opening, after they present the film name, we have a close up of what one can assume is the main character of the film. Something I like about this film is that its strange but that's what makes it intriguing, the film opening is so far from what actually happens towards the end of the film. For example, during the close up of the character, he talks about how much love and desire he has for a woman named Loretta for a minute and 46 seconds. As the camera pans to a screen that's using a text-to-speech for what he is saying we realize that he wasn't "writing" this anniversary letter for his loved one, but for someone else's. 

The more the camera pans to different workers in the office that are doing the exact same thing as he is but doing it for different occasions such as a get well soon card or a congratulations card. This film is very colorful as it has very nice cinematography. This is shown after the main character reviews the printed version of the card he made. The windows in the back have different colors, as the other associates in the "Beautiful Handwrit Letters" company are also wearing different colors or have colorful pans surrounding their office workspace. This colorful atmosphere creates a very eye-attracting film for many viewers as they are seeing many different colors throughout the screen, as well as hearing different cards being produced at the same time.

Transition into Portfolio Project

 My Transition into the Cambridge Portfolio Project 

From now on, I will be transitioning and talking about my Cambridge Portfolio Project. I will be discussing the process, my thoughts, my progress, and the overall development of my portfolio project. I'm excited to be able to create something, especially since I am able to be creative with it. I have always had two main genres/sub-genres that I have always loved numerous films that fall under their category. 

Romantic Dramas 

Romantic dramas have always held a special place in my heart as many of these films happen to be my comfort movies. I find these movies really interesting, especially how they are differently produce. For example, some emphasize the colors and warm hues throughout the movie to support and establish the tones while others create a very plain, neutral colored palette as the movie progress while the heavily rely on dialogue to clear the understanding. Romance has always been something I have been intrigued in such as one of my favorites La La Land; which has beautiful cinematography. 

I think creating a romantic drama not only has the romantic appeal but the drama that adds shape and depth instead of just having a fluffy, mediocre romance story. Especially love triangles; I love the way certain directors produce and mold a movie that many can assume the ending of, into the complete opposite midway through the movie. Creating a movie that involves a love triangle would be so fun because there is so much you can do with three different actors that have several similarities yet have a difficulty feeling towards each other. So many different emotions can be felt throughout movies that involve love triangles such as anger, competition, contemplating, and it is something I would want the viewer to feel when watching my portfolio project.

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

This is one of my favorite romantic dramas because of the way the story progressively develops. I love the long shots in the movie that are able to show the beautiful scenery and the way it constantly involves one of the main characters thought process. It's able to show how strongly and romantic his feelings once were for Summer, the following main character, into hatred, anger, and sadness he never thought he'd never feel for her.

Psychological Dramas

I have always found psychological dramas more than interesting and cool based off the way they play with the viewer's mind or with a character in the movie or show. The production of psychological drama have always had so many different compelling factors that can lead to countless of endings that one cannot assume as easily as for other genres. I think these types of films have been developed and created into so many mysterious backgrounds and carry different, contrasting emotions are shown through dakrer hues, low-key lighting, dialouge and actions that add to the suspense. 

These films create such a deep connection with their audience which I absolutely adore and would love to be able to accomplish in my film project. I find many of these films fascinating on how they're able to create such different connections and express different emotions or illnesses throughout different actions or dialogue.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The Silence of the Lambs is a very intense, film that consists of a very interesting storyline. Something I love about this movie is how they're able to show the deep connection and manipulation that Hannibal Lector contains within Starling whose the main character. They're able to show this throughout eerie and unsettling sounds along with a very intense or uneasy soundtrack in the background. They also hold heavy dialogue that carries importance throughout the movie and that adds onto Starling's character progressiveness throughout the film. I would love to be able to use the power of strong dialogue, low-key lighting, and dark blues or black colors throughout a film in order to create a strong message in my film opening. 

Portfolio Project Genre #2

 Psychological Dramas

Psychological dramas have always kept me insanely entertained as they are very eventful with turning points, or unexpected actions/dialogue. There has been several successful psychological dramas that have been produced in the past years that I have watched with my family countless of times. The plot, setting and mindset of characters are always so complex that only adds onto the mysterious side of this genre of movies.

Target Audience 

The target audience for this genre of movies are primarily older teenagers and adults around 16 years or older. This genre is appealing towards audiences who enjoy viewing complex characters along with emotional depth; such as stories that reach to explore the human mind and behavior. Psychological dramas always explore different sides of the mind or of deep, emotional sides many do not pay attention to which makes these films appealing. They often attracts viewers who enjoy viewing or learning the sides or affects of mental health, morality, and identity. The fans towards these movies have a smaller number compared to more mainstream and popular genres.

Genre Conventions (content)

Psychological dramas heavily focus on character's internal conflicts rather than external action. Although, there are many movies that normally use the character's internal conflicts and produce them or connect hem to external factors. These movies explore mental health struggles; trauma, guilt, obsession or paranoia. As many of the characters could be unreliable narrators due to their mental status, it normally creates a blurred line between reality and recognizing awareness. Themes also include identity, control, power, and isolation. These dramas could be often considered as "slow-burn" and emotionally intense considering the fact that many viewers never know where to point in the direction of where the ending will end up.

Genre Conventions (techniques)

These movies  are able to emphasize emotion and discomfort through close-ups and extreme close-ups. Low-key lighting and shadows are also used throughout the films to reflect mental instability and tension. Distorted sound designs such as as echoes, ringing or straight up a loud, deafening silence to add to the suspense and thriller part of the film. There are also many uses of "non-linear" storytelling. For example, flashbacks and fragmented timelines in case they need to reference something that previously had happened. Psychological dramas also use mirrors, reflections, or confined spaces as symbolism towards the environment or characters. All of these factors and more ad to the pacing and uneasiness of the film.

Institutional Conventions 

Psychological dramas focus on characters, often have unclear endings, and use dark or minimal visuals. The marketing for these films vary with details that add to the plot, characters and ending. For example, the trailers focus on mood, tension, and pressure rather than the plot. It normally consists of unsettling, cold dialogue. On the other hand, posters often show isolated characters, shattered faces/emotions and symbolic imagery. Such as for the movie Split, the cover of the movie consist of the main antagonist with what seems to be shattered glass creating a hidden message of his "split" personality disorder (DID). Psychological dramas are normally distributed through film festivals, streaming platforms, and limited theatrical releases. 

Two popular psychological dramas would be...

Donnie Darko (2001)

Black Swan (2010)

Portfolio Project Genre #1

 Romantic Dramas

Romantic dramas have always caught my attention because they are always so heartwarming or have a deep connection or understanding towards the message of the movie. The majority of my comfort movies or shows are romantic dramas because of how they manage to portray the difference  or similarities between two or more characters within the movie. 

Target audience 

Romantic dramas mainly target teenagers to young adults around the age of 15-35 as these types of movies show what could happen when experiencing love around a younger age. For example, there's many movies such as The Notebook, where it shows how their love progresses from when they were young and how then their story falls and ends off once they are much older. This genre appeals a larger female audience for those who are interested in relationships, dramas, conflicts and love. There are many fans of romantic dramas that enjoy seeing how different relationships grow old or are able to reach up until a certain point until a turning points affects the bond two characters once had. 

Genre Conventions (content)

In romantic dramas, the focus is on a romantic relationship or a connection certain people have that could progress into a romantic bond. There are several conflicts that cause the emotional climax into these movies or shows. Such as unrequited love; love triangles, class, family, cultural barriers, timing issues as right person, wrong time. Characters in this genre of film mainly face "internal struggle" with either themselves or with something that carries heavy importance to them as a person; like vulnerability or past trauma. Themes within romantic dramas contain love vs duty; sacrifice, identity, loss and healing. A big factor that appeals a large audience is how complex the ending could be. They could be bittersweet, happy, sad, or simply disappointing.

Genre Conventions (techniques)

These types of movies mainly consist of close-ups to show emotion and intimacy, long shots to show physical and deep connections, soft or warm lighting to create a romantic and passionate tone. They also use slow pacing in order to create a clearer understanding of the plot, character's emotions or overall emotions moments. Soundtracks or music played in the background or simply during eventful times for the characters are typically played at slow tempos that bring emphasis to feelings or indirect messages. Sometimes they try connecting the lyric to what is being shown or felt on screen. They can also use lightly toned or instruments that color a lightweight picture such as piano, acoustic or emotional vocals.

Institutional Conventions 

Love is shown in a realistic or romanticized way, with more focus on emotions than action through different dialogue or physical movements. The characters are the main focused on than the plot. Forms of marketing such as posters involve the main two characters close together or almost reaching physical touch to add tension. These posters normally use pinks, blues or other warm tones that create soft, light looks. Trailers focus on dialogue as these types of movies aren't heavily based on actions unless it is something like romantic tensions that also is included in trailers. Romantic comedies are heavily promoted through social media, streaming platforms or film festivals.

Two popular romantic comedies would be: 

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)  

Me Before You (2016)